Pythian Games

Wonderword — Door County Shopping May 31, 2007
Posted by Barbara in Creativity Catalogue, Pythian Games, Uncategorized. add a comment , edit post

A unique house stands near the edge of the busiest highway in Door County. A sun-sparkled, crystal-clear lake laps at the home’s backyard out-buildings and chirpy bird calls obscure the road noise from the many layers of nature’s sounds. Black-faced swans, with shiny iridescent feathers, stretch their necks high like giraffes nibbling the highest branches of a lone tree. The female swan, though less flashy than the male, shows a sculpted daintiness under her masqureade of brown colored feathers. Three children play in a nearby tree fort.

Above the front door’s arch, a handmade sign spins ’round, blown by strong winds and loosely hanging by tiny screws. It reads “Collette’s Gift and Beauty Shoppe. Low cost custom cuts.” Peeking through a set of white draperies, I see a single sink and hair dryer, and a glass display cabinet filled with dusty, cheap trinkets. The glass panels are beveled and the panes are etched with a flutter of butterflies, belying it’s antique worth and catches my husband’s eye.

Across the highway, a smaller log cabin stands amidst tall prairie grasses and perennial flowers. An engraved plaque is fastened to the door and reads ‘The Miniature Lamp and Jewelry Collection.’ Two artists stand behind a counter at an elaborate work station. On a piece of black velvet lays a tool kit placed on a red lacquered tray. The man, who bears an uncanny likeness to Albert Einstein, works on a hand-crafted collection of necklaces shaped from specks of gold nuggets. He uses a sheet of paper as a pattern. The custom jeweler, Lester Thomas, also uses a heat gun to shape the precious metal into rings and bracelets.

Since the recent death of his wife, Maria, he struggles to replace the best known and talented artisan in the resort community. Although his daughter, Alena, is learning the craft, she hasn’t inherited the natural talent her mother possessed. The mortgage and the costs of metal are due, and Lester struggles to meet his budget. He imagines the business his wife built from next to nothing will go bankrupt. He can barely see his creation through a steady stream of his tears.